Painful erections are fairly common. When you have one, it may be a medical emergency.
The pain may be severe or occur at irregular intervals, which may go away with the erection.
A painful erection may result from several causes. The causes may include injury, drug use, or a health condition.
This article will explore the causes and treatment of painful erections.
What is a painful erection
Painful erection is a common name for Priapism. It is a painful erection lasting for hours.
Generally, a painful erection should last at least 4 hours to receive a Priapism diagnosis. Yet it is not necessary for the erection to last that long to receive the same diagnosis.
A painful erection is one that does not go away when you feel pain. So, if your erection goes away when you feel pain, it may not be cause for concern.
Painful erection causes
Most people believe that painful erections result from Erectile Dysfunction (ED) pills misuse. But they can occur from injury or blood flow problems also.
One of the most common causes of painful erection is Sickle cell disease. It is a genetic disease affecting the red blood cells. The incidence of Priapism in people with Sickle cell disease is about 35%.
Peyronie’s disease involves the slight curving of the penis due to the build-up of scar tissue. The condition can cause the penile membrane to contract suddenly.
Peyronie’s disease can cause a painful erection due to the stretching of the shortened membrane.
Another common cause is the use of drugs that may affect blood flow, particularly medicines for treating ED symptoms.
To learn more about painful erections, read Why Do My Boners Hurt Sometimes: Painful Erection Causes.
Painful erection treatment
Source: towfiqu_ahamed_barbhuiyaTreatment of a painful erection depends on its underlying cause of painful erection and its severity.
Initially, when the pain starts, the best step would be to wait for the pain to go away on its own. This may be difficult, especially when the pain is severe, and considered a medical emergency.
If it happens for a short time using a cold compress on the penis may help to get rid of the erection and reduce pain.
Hospital treatments for painful erections may involve using medications or surgical procedures. Initially, doctors use tablets or medicines that are directly injected into the penis to treat a painful erection.
But, since Priapism is a medical emergency, it has a high risk of permanent damage to the penile tissue or nerves.
Doctors may quickly shift to surgical procedures when the medications aren’t working.
To explore more options for improving erections, read How to Improve Erections: Effective Exercises, Foods, and Medications.
The takeaway
Painful erections are very common. It is a layman’s name for Priapism, a medical emergency.
You may receive a Priapism diagnosis when a painful erection lasts about 4 hours or more.
This problem can have multiple causes, including the use of ED medicines. Other causes may include Peyronie’s disease or diseases affecting blood flow, such as Sickle cell disease.
Like any other condition, the treatment of painful erections depends on their cause. At-home treatments may include using a cold compress to get rid of the erection and relieve pain.
In case of emergency, you may need to see a doctor. They may use medications at first but may quickly shift to surgical methods if a person does not benefit from medicines.
Treating the underlying cause of a painful erection, such as Peyronie’s disease or Sickle cell disease, may also help. Consult a doctor to seek appropriate treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the morning erection painful?
An erection that occurs during sleep is different from an erection resulting from sexual arousal. Erections occurring during sleep are also called morning erections.
Such morning erections are generally not painful. Yet sometimes, a person may have a painful morning erection but does not have any pain during a normal erection.
Why does it hurt when I get erect?
There are several causes of a painful erection, including infections, trauma, medicine use, or hormone deficiencies. In most cases, the reason for a painful erection is Peyronie’s Disease.
How long does a painful erection last?
A painful erection, or, Priapism, can last about 4 hours or more. It is a medical emergency and needs immediate medical attention.
Can erectile tissue heal on its own?
The erectile tissue may heal on its own, depending on the severity of the injury.
In case of minor injuries, they may heal on their own. But it may need medical treatment for proper recovery or when the injury is severe.
What is a painful erection that does not go away?
A painful erection that does not go away is generally called Priapism. It is a medical emergency that may need immediate medical attention.
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